Paxton to improve handicapped access to pool

PAXTON — Plans are under way to make the public swimming pool at Coady Park more handicapped-accessible using the $37,000 left over from a community fundraiser.

After the pool had been closed for the summer of 2011, the Save Our Pool Committee was formed and raised $67,731 to help cover costs needed to renovate the pool's main drain and reopen the facility in 2012.

After spending about $30,740 on necessities — such as $6,977 for the services of Foth Engineering and $5,261 to Emberson Quality Plumbing, which included the $210 repair of a boiler drain — the park district had $36,991 left over.

The committee is using the majority of the surplus on giving a lift of its own — to the disabled members of the Paxton community.

Among the features to be purchased for the park district-owned pool is a battery-operated, portable lift with a capacity of 350 pounds. With the lift, handicapped patrons at the pool — including those in a wheelchair — will be allowed to enter and exit the pool.

The project will cost $6,831.

The park district's recreational director, Neal McKenry, said the lift should be delivered in a few weeks and be ready for use when the pool opens Memorial Day weekend.

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